Crib safety shield



Sept. 17, 1963 E. R. MUNDlS CRIB SAFETY SHIELD Filed Feb. 15, 1961 FIG- 3 $3 INVENTOR. EDGAR R. MUNDIS United States Patent 3,103,669 CRIB SAFETY SHELD Edgar R. Mundis, 523 Ventura Drive, Bristol, Tenn. Filed Feb. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 89,001 2 Claims. (Cl. -98) This invention relates generally to baby cribs, and more specifically to a surrounding shield for the protection and safety of the baby whilst in the crib.

The conventional baby crib generally is provided with plywood end panels and adjustable runged sides. Such structure results in considerable exposure through the sides, to drafts, artificial light and sun light. These elements can be both harmful and distracting to a young infant. 'Iihe spaced rungs which form the sides of the crib also provide a danger to the lively infant in that the infant can readily become stuck with his legs extending through the bars. It is my purpose by this invention to provide suitable adjustable means for overcoming the above mentioned dangers and distractions.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an elastically fitted shield adapted to surround the crib sides and capable of various adjustments for the admission of air through the elastic portion of the shield.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an elastically retained crib shield which may be selectively used as a hideaway for the bottom of the crib or as a dust rufile extending around the mattress level of the crib.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an elastically mounted crib shield which is attractive in appearance, versatile in use, and which may be manufactured economically at low cost.

A full understanding of the construction of this invention, together with further novel features and advantages, will be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a baby crib shown with the shield of my invention assembled thereon for service as a draft and light shield.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional plan view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and showing the porous elastic panel which retains the shield in the desired position about the crib sides.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end elevation taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1, and showing the shield being utilized as a hideaway.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral 5 represents a conventional rectangular baby icrib having corner posts 6, connecting end panels 7 and runged sides 8. The sides 8 are formed by vertically spaced beams 9 connected together by vertical rungs 10 disposed in a parallel spaced relationship. The crib has four legs 11 and contains a mattress 12.

The invention consists of a rectangular length of cloth material 13 having a width substantially equal to the height of the crib rungs 10 and a length terminating with ends 14 which are spaced apart when extended around the end panels 7 and sides 8 of the crib. The length of cloth is made of substantially draft-proof material and is provided in suitable attractive colors and appropriate designs.

Connecting the two ends 14 of the cloth 13 in an overlapping relationship therewith is an elastic panel 15 which is suitably stitched as indicated at 16 to overlapped portions of the cloth ends. The elastic panel is adapted to provide about 50% transparency when in the assentbled position. This panel thus provides both a window and adjustable air vent.

'In operation, the sleeve, formed by the cloth material 13 and elastic panel 15, may be extended around the sides and ends of the crib as indicated in full lines in FIG. 1. By moving the elastic panel relative to the end panels, the sides of the crib may be selectively enclosed entirely by the cloth material or may be vented to the desired degree by exposing the desired amount of the elastic panel to the sides of the crib. If the shield is not required, it may be removed or folded over as indicated at 13 and disposed about the legs 11 of the crib to provide a hideaway area beneath the crib.

The advantages of the shield are numerous and will readily occur to those accustomed to caring for young infants. Further to the advantages already mentioned, the shield provides protection from jealous investigations of other young children, prevents bottle or toys from falling through the bars on to the floor, permits visual inspection of the infant without being recognized. It will further be apparent that because of the elastic panel, the shield will fit all makes and sizes of crib. The dimensions of the shield are a matter of choice, but I have found that a width of about 20 inches and length in the order of inches is ideal for the cloth material. An elastic panel 10 to 15 inches long completes the shield.

Having described the invention in a preferred form, it will be appreciated that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claims. t

I claim:

1. A safety shield for a baby crib having sides and end panels, and comprising, a single rectangular strip of draft proof cloth material extending in an uninterrupted manner around the greater part of the sides and end panels of the crib, said strip having parallel ends terminating in a spaced apart relationship when drawn taut around said sides and end panels, a rectangular elastic panel secured between said parallel strip ends in a stretched manner so as to retain the strip in frictional engagement about said sides and end panels, said elastic panel adapted for positioning selectively relative to the sides and end panels, said elastic panel having transparency when in the stretched condition and further permitting the passage of air therethrough.

2. A safety shield for a baby crib having sides and end panels, comprising a strip of draft and light proof cloth material extending around the greater part of the sides and end panels of the crib, said strip having ends terminating in a spaced apart relationship when drawn taut around said sides and end panels, an elastic panel secured between said strip ends in a stretched manner so as to retain the strip in frictional engagement about said sides and end panels, said elastic panel adapted for positioning selectively relative to the sides and end panels, said elastic panel having transparency when in the stretched condition and further permitting the passage of air therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,418 Wedler May 10, 1932 1,905,128 Benson Apr. 25, 1933 2,624,893 Harris Jan. 13, 1953 2,884,652 Paolicelli May 5, 1959 2,927,331 Ruiz Mar. 8, 1960 

1. A SAFETY SHIELD FOR A BABY CRIB HAVING SIDES AND END PANELS, AND COMPRISING, A SINGLE RECTANGULAR STRIP OF DRAFT PROOF CLOTH MATERIAL EXTENDING IN AN UNINTERRUPTED MANNER AROUND THE GREATER PART OF THE SIDES AND END PANELS OF THE CRIB, SAID STRIP HAVING PARALLEL ENDS TERMINATING IN A SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP WHEN DRAWN TAUT AROUND SAID SIDES AND END PANELS, A RECTANGULAR ELASTIC PANEL SECURED BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL STRIP ENDS IN A STRETCHED MANNER SO AS TO RETAIN THE STRIP IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT ABOUT SAID SIDES AND END PANELS, SAID ELASTIC PANEL ADAPTED FOR POSITIONING SELECTIVELY RELATIVE TO THE SIDES AND END PANELS, SAID ELASTIC PANEL HAVING TRANSPARENCY WHEN IN THE STRETCHED CONDITION AND FURTHER PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF AIR THERETHROUGH. 